Toll checking system



Dec. 16, 1952 B. COOPER TOLL CHECKING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 5, 1949 4Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

DenjzJm/h Cooper BY Dec. 16, 1952 B. COOPER 2,622,133

TQLL CHECKING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 5, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

belybmifl Coo er g,

ttor l' 7 Dec. 16, 1952 B. COOPER TOLL CHECKING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed Nov. 5, 1949 P. .8 m 7 M a M M 1.m o m w .m w 4 b Patented Dec.16,1952

UNITED STATES TEN'T OFFICE 2,622,138 TGLL' CHECKING SYSTEM BenjaminCooper, New York, N. Y.

Application November 5, 1949, Serial No. 125,755 18 Claims. (01. 177-311In appli'cants U. S. Patent No. 2,293,935 issued August 25, 1942, thereis described a keyboard having a plurality of push-button operatedswitches'suitable'ior use in controlling electrical counters'andindicating systems. The present invention relates to improvements insuch a keyboard.

In modern vehicle toll checking systems, provision vis made, by means ofindividual electric switches associated with each classification buttonof'the keybox, to indicate visually'the classification number and thefare charged in each separate toll collectionitransaction. To this end,indication lights in the form of numeral signals are'usu'ally located onthe canopy above the toll collection booth so as to be easily readableat a distance when a toll transaction is registered. This arrangementserves the important function of allowing'a supervisor, unobserved bythe toll collector, opportunity to check on the collectors individualtransactions. In ordinary toll collecting systems of this-type, it isoften dlfiicult, or even impossible, fora supervisor to followaccurately the operators transactions when they are being made at'arapid rate. v

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide, in a tollchecking system of the type described, automatic timing means to insurethat any given classification number and-fare indication will remainlighted for at least a certain predetermined length of time. t

It is another object of this invention to provide, in asystem of thetype described, automatic means to extinguish or black out the previoustoll indication lights for a short time prior to the indication'of thenext successive toll registration.

It is a further object of this invention to provide, in a system of thecharacter described, automatic means to hold any given keyboxclassification button in a depressed position until the timing cycle foritsvisual indication iscompleted.

It is a further object of this invention to provide, in a system of thetype described, locking means to prevent any classification button frombeingdepressed while the system is electrically deenergized.

A furtherobje'ctof this invention is to provide a strong, compact,rugged device of the character described, comprising comparatively fewand simple parts, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture,smooth and positive in operation, easy to assemble and disassemble; yetpractical and efficient to ahigh degree inuse.

Other. objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in'part'hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, ofcombinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described and of which thescope of this application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In. the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the variouspossible illustrative embodiments of'this invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a left end elevationalview of a device embodying theinvention;

Fig. 3 isa right end elevational view of a device embodying theinvention. This View is also a top view of a timer unit incorporated inthe invention;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. lshowingthe actuation of electric switches upon depressing a push-button;

Fig. 6 is a front view of a timer unittaken on line 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line I of Fig. 3; i

Fig. Sis a cross-sectionalview-taken on line 8 of Fig. 3;

d Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side el'evational-view taken on line Iii-l0 ofFig. 6;

Fig. 11 is a-fragmentary view showing 7 the classification lightauxiliary switch;

Fig. 12 is a schematic drawing showing the electrical circuitcontrolling the keyboard looking solenoid; and

Fig. 13 is a schematic drawing showing the electrical circuit associatedwith the timer unit.

The description and function of thG'KGYbOaId itself, over which thepresent invention is-an'improvement, is detailed in applicant's U. S.Patent No. 2,293,935 issued August 25, 194:2. Therefore, only so much ofits operation willbedescribed herein as is necessary todiscloseadequately the operation of the present invention. The construction andoperation of a key identifier unit, referred to herein, is described inapplicants U. S. Patent No. 2,325,744 issued August 3, 1943.

Referring now in detail to -the drawings, l0 designates a deviceembodying theinvention. The device comprises a frame ll having a topplate or panel l4 and parallel side walls [land :3 afiixed thereto.Completing the frame are two square bars I and I6, rigidly andperpendicularly mounted between plates I2 and I3 at their lower corners.Said bars are positioned so as to have surfaces in planes parallel withplate 14. Bar It has affixed thereto, against its upper face andextending substantially along its entire length, a plate I'I greater inwidth than said bar and having surfaces parallel with panel I4. Panel I4and plate H are provided with a plurality of aligned, registeringslotted openings,

I8 and I9.

On frame II is a plurality of similar parallel depressable plungers 25,25a, b, 250, etc., each comprising a plunger rod 2I slidably mountedwithin the aligned slotted openings I8 and I9 and having buttons 22 atthe upper ends thereof. Each of said plungers has associated with it atoggle switch mechanism A mounted in a U- shaped member as shown inFigs. 4 and 5 and described and claimed in applicants keybox patentreferred to above. Said U-shaped members each have afiixed to theirfront walls a pair of switches 23 comprising the normally open insulatedspring fingers 23a and 23b and the normally open insulated springfingers 23c and 23d.

As described in applicants above-mentioned keyboard patent, normallyopen switches 23, by reason of the movement of insulated roller I28 awayfrom said switch, close when the associated plunger is depressed andopen when said plunger is released and moves back to its initialposition.

Affixed to the underside of bar I5 is plate 24 parallel with panel I4.Affixed to said plate are a plurality of pairs of switches 25 comprisingthe normally open insulated spring fingers 25a. and 25b, a pair of saidswitches being provided for each of said U-shaped members and said pairof switches being disposed on opposite sides of each opening I9.

Means is provided to prevent more than one of said plungers from beingdepressed at the same time. To this end, there is provided a verticalplate 25 between side plates I2 and I3, having a surface flush withaligned edges of the slot openings I8 and I9, upon which are pivoted, asby screws 21, webbed members 28 having shoulders 28a and 28b. Saidwebbed members, interposed between shoulder members 29, located onplunger rods 2I and having shoulders 29a and 29b for coaction therewith,have downwardly depending tongues 35. Said tongues have, at their lowerend, a bearing stud 3| fitted with a cotter pin 32. Coaction of thewebbed members is brought about by links 33. Each link has a bearingopening at one end and a slot 34 at its other end. Each link 33 ispivoted at one end on said bearing stud of one member 28 and connectedby said slot and stud to adjacent member 28. The clearance between theshoulder members is sufiicient only to permit one plunger to bedepressed at a time.

Depressing push button 22 in Fig. 1 will slide shoulder 29a downwardlyand over the shoulder 28b of the webbed member 28 to the left of thepush button. Member 23 will rotate about its pivot 21 in a clockwisedirection (Fig. 1), closing the clearance between shoulders 72% and 28a.This motion will be imparted to the other mem-- bers through links 33.The Webbed members 28 will also close the clearance between theirshoulders 28a and the shoulders 29a affixed to rods 2|. If the pushbutton is held in its lowermost position, none of the other push buttonsmay be actuated because of the lack of clearance between the shoulders.

Should an attempt be made to. depres two push buttons at the same time,neither one would be depressed far enough to perform its intended operations. The shoulders affixed to the rods 2| would slide downwardlyabout halfway on the shoulders of the webbed members and come toa stopwhen all the clearance is taken up. The webbed members would not rotateabout the pivots to give sufficient clearance for the shoulders afiixedto the rods 2 I.

Each plunger has a toothed rack part 9 alfixed along the plunger rod 2I. cooperatively mounted with respect to said rack part, is a pawl 35rotatably pivoted in cutout 36 of mounting member 31 (Fig. 4). Saidmounting members are affixed, as by screws 38, in notches along asupporting bar 39 positioned against the underside of panel I4 andparallel therewith. Each of said pawls is furnished with a leaf spring40 fastened to the free end of said pawl as by rivet M and restricted incompression at its open end due to its engagement with the inner edge ofsaid cutout 36. Re-- ferring to Fig. 4, it is evident that the resultantforce imposed by said spring upon said pawl will.

There is further associated with said rack and panel mechanisms, acooperative bar 42 rotatably and perpendicularly mounted between platesI2 and I3 and having a corner cutout portion 43 along its length. Face44 of said cutout is normally in contact with the free ends of saidpawls at the opposite side to which springs 40 are attached. Referringto Fig. 4, it is evident that clockwise rotational motion of bar 42 willimpart a counter-clockwise rotational motion to said pawls against theurgency of spring 40, thereby releasing any one of the plungers 20 heldin a de pressed position by reason of engagement of said pawl with saidrack and allowing said plunger to resume its normal upward positionunder the urgency of spring 43 associated with known toggle switchmechanism A.

It should be noted here that the lower end of foot 45 affixed to rod 21serves to operate said toggle switch mechanism A; and the upper end ofsaid foot, due to abutment against vertical plate 26, serves to limitthe upward motion of said plunger.

Said rotatable bar 42 extends through plate I3 and, as is hereinafterdescribed, is equipped and adapted to be actuated by a timer unitassembled on the outer said of said plate and indicated in Fig. 1 by thedotted enclosure.

Means is provided to close a pair of switches 25 upon depressing theassociated plunger and to hold said switches closed after the return ofsaid plunger to its initial position until they are released bydepressing another plunger.

To this end, there is pivoted on shaft 46, perpendicularly mountedbetween side plates I2 and I3, a plurality of rocking members 41, eachaligned with the pair of switches 25 (Figs. 4 and 9). Each of therocking members 41 comprises a pair of aligned bell cranks 41a havingarms 41b and 410. The arms 41b of each pair of bell cranks areinterconnected by a web 48. Said web has a notch 49 having a lower edge49a. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 50 are the insulated rollers 5 I.The rocking members 41 are spaced upon the shaft 46 by sleeves 52 andare so spaced that the upper portion of webs 48 normally engages the rod53 of the toggle mechanism so that the switches 25 will close uponrotation of said rocking members ina clockwise direction. Web portion'48 of each rocking member isnormally-held in engagement with red 53 bycoil spring 54 having one end connected to said web and the other end tobar 15 at a position opposite said web.

There isrotatably mounted and perpendicularly positioned between platesI2: and I3 and extending through plate 2 a rod 55 having a wingedmember51 affixed thereto adjacent the inner side of plate is. Said wingedmember has affixed thereto a pin 58. A coil spring 59 connects betweensaid pin and a hole 55 in platel3. Said spring exerts an upward-forceon'winged member '51, urging said member and the rod 55 torotate in aclockwise direction (Fig. 4).

Rigidly afiixed to rod as by screws 59, are the pawl fingers B-l alignedwith notches ii] and having downwardly curved portions 62 adapted topass through said notches. The pawl fingers are so affixed to said rodthat under normal conditions, when the plungers are up, said fingerswill pass through the notch 59 of the rocking member 4": and rest on thebottom edge Me.

When plunger 22 is depressed, its toggle mechanism part B will berotated in a counter-clockwise direction (Figs. 4 and 5),.thereby urgingrocking member 41 to rotate in a clockwise di-. reotion for closing theswitches 25. The rotationof the rocking member A! will require the pawlfinger 6| to slip out of notch 29 and, due to the length of said pawlfinger and the action of spring 59 on rod 55, the tip of said pawlfinger will abut against the back of web d8 of saidyrocking member. Whenplunger 22 is thereafter released, part B will rotate in aclockwisedirection but rocking member 41 will be held by pawl finger 5i,as shown in Fig. 5, to retain switches 25 closed.

Switches 25 will be opened when one of the other plungers of the deviceis depressed to rotate its rocking member 41 in a clockwise direction;Edge 49a of notch 49 will slide along pawl 62in said notch raising allthe pawls against the action of spring 55. By the slight rotation of rod55, the pawl finger 62 holding the one set of switches 25 closed will beraised enough to allow the rocking member 41 to return to its initialposition due to the action of spring 54. The previously closed switchesare thereby allowed to open. Meanwhile, another set of the switches 25was closed and remained closed until released as aforedescribed.

The same plunger may be successively depressed as often as desired.The'switches 25 will remain closed. The switches 23 alone .will beactuated as hereinbefore described. The switches 25. will againbe'opened by depressing any one of the other plungers.

.Means is further provided to open any switch 25 held closed as aboveand at the same time to prevent any of the buttons from being depressedwhenever the keybox is locked out 0 service. i

To this end, there is provided a locking bar 63 rotatably mountedperpendicularly between plates l2 and I3 and extending through end plate12. Said locking bar has an edge 64 adapted to engage lips 65 onplungers 25 to prevent the de'pressionof any- .of the plung'ers whensaid docking bar is in its locked position, as indicated 'by'its dottedline representation in Fig.

mounted on end plate 12 and having an armature-Bl (Fig. 2); Saidarmature is-plvotally connected to one arm of a bell crank 68 fittedtothe extending end of said locking bar.'- Circumjacent said locking barbetween-the outer face of plate [2 andsaid bell crank, is a coil spring59 havingends 10 and 1| held by'the edges, respectively, of said bellcrank and-"said plate. Spring 69, being-under torsional stress, impartsa force to rotationally urge said locking bar'63 counter-clockwise intoits locking'position (Figs. 2 and 4). Pivotally connected with the otherarm of bell crank 68 is a connecting rod 12 having its remote endloosely coupled to a crank arm 13 fixed to one end of rod 56.- Saidcoupling comprises an outwardly extending ear 14 on said crank armhaving a hole 75 through which said connecting rod passes. Threaded onsaid connecting rod is a-nut l6 adjustable therealong. This couplingarrangement permitsthe crank arm and its attached rod 56 to be moved ina counter-clockwise direction by the action of bell crank 58, but at thesame time allows said crank arm and its attached rod to rotate in acounterclockwise direction without imparting motion to said bell crank,sincev car 14 is free to move along connecting rod '72 away from nut 16.

Now it is evident that when said solenoid is energized, corresponding tothe condition when the keybox is unlocked and in operation, as ishereinafter described, bell crank 68 is moved in a clockwise direction,thus rotating attached locking bar 63 to a position allowingv theclearance of lips 65 on plunger shaft 2|. In this position a plunger maybe depressed.

At the same time, as bell crank 58 rotates, it' allows clockwiserotational motion of crank 13 and its connected rod '56 due to theextended position of connecting rod 12 and the action of spring 59. Thisrotation will, in effect, allow pawls 6| to assume their positionof-rest in notches 49.

Conversely, when solenoid (i5 is de-energized, corresponding to thecondition when the keybox is locked and outof operation, bell crank 68is moved in a counter-clockwise direction, thus rotating attachedlocking bar 63 to a position for engagement with lips 65 on said plungershaft and thereby preventing the depression of any plunger. At the sametime, a counter-clockwise rotational motion will be imparted throughconnecting .rod 12 to said crank and rod 55. This rotation will movepawls 6| away from rocking members 41 (see dotted line representation,Fig. 4) and allow any closed switches 25 to open as explained above.

Timing means is provided to hold automatically any keybox classificationbutton in a depressed position until the timing cycle for its visualindication is completed.

To this end, there is assembled on theouter end of. plate I3 anelectromechanical timing unit (Figs. 3 and 6) adapted to control plungerrelease bar 42 and to control an electrical/circuit, to be hereinafterdescribed, associated with the keybox.

:In, the timing unit synchronous motor H is a'flikd 'toiend plate l3.andis coupled to a gear reduction box 18 also affixed to platelS and havingan. output shaft 79 greatly reduced in speed from the speed of saidinput motor. Rotatably fitted onsaid output shaft, as by end screw '80,is a clutch mechanism 8! adapted, as hereinafter explained, to engage onoccasion with saidoutput shaft'and to rotate unitedly therewith.Coaxially mounted, as by set screw 82, on the inner end of clutch 8| isa cam 83. Aifixed to gear reduction box 13 at its inner side is a stud84 upon which is rotatably mounted a pivot arm 85 holding a cam followerwheel 83 at one end. Said wheel is positioned in engagement with cam 83so as to be cooperative therewith (Fig. 8). The remote end of said pivotarm rests against the operating button 81 of microswitch 88 and actuatessaid switch upon rotation of said cam as described hereinafter. There isfurther, as part of the timer unit, a solenoid 39 affixed to plate I3and having a pivoted armature normally held in an open or outwardposition in the usual manner by spring 0|. Attached to and extendingfrom the open end of said armature is an arm 92 having a flat portion 93(Fig. 13). Said flat portion rests against a similar flat portion 94 onarm 95 and is adapted to move arm 95 thereby. Arm 95 is rigidly coupledto one end of a rod 96 rotatably mounted in a guide piece 9? having afiat portion 98 securely fixed to said gear box as by screws 99. Saidrod has at its inner end and circumjacently disposed between arm 35 andguide piece 91, a helical spring I38 having one of its ends fixedagainst arm 85 and the other against said guide piece and undertorsional stress so as to urge said rod to rotate in a clockwisedirection (Fig. The other end of rod 96 has afiixed thereto, as by setscrew I00, a unit comprising clutch release arm IQI and switch actuatingarm I02.

It is evident that the downward motion of armature 00, upon energizationof its solenoid, will impart through arm 02 to arm 35 a correspondingdownward movement against the ur- I gency of spring I38 resulting in acounter-clockwise rotational motion of rod 93 (Fig. 10) Consequently,switch actuation arm 202, being connected to said rod, will pressagainst and operate button I03 of microswitch I04 affixed by bracket II05 to gear reduction box it as by screws I08. Also, release arm IOIwill be moved to a position out of engagement with respect to pawl I31associated with clutch 8i described below.

Clutch 8| comprises a housing I03 (Fig. 7) fitted with a pin I09 uponwhich is pivoted a pawl I01 having a toothed end H0 and a horizontalsquare end III extending through a slot H2 in the periphery of saidhousing. Near the toothed end of said pawl, there is in its outer edge abore II3 adapted to hold seated therein one end of a spring I I4. Theother end of said spring is constrained in compression against the innerperiphery of said housing, serving to urge said toothed end against aratchet wheel I I5 fixed to said output shaft.

Said ratchet wheel has an axial bore H3 and a diametrical slot Ill. Saidslot is adapted to register with and fit over a locking pin H3diametrically positioned in output shaft 19 so that ratchet wheel I I5is held fixed relative to said output shaft. Said housing is fitted withthreaded holes I I9 to receive screws I20 adapted to hold in place ahousing cover I2I (Fig. 6).

Since the normal direction of rotation of the output shaft is clockwise(Fig. 7), it is evident that when pawl I0! is not controlled at itsouter end III, clutch 3i and cam 03 will be rotated along with theoutput shaft, due to the toothed end III) of said pawl being inengagement with said ratchet wheel.

However, when pawl I07 is held at its outer end I I I by engagement withrelease arm I0 I, a resultingmotion of pawl I01 about pin we against thecompressional force of spring H4 will move the toothed end of said pawlout of engagement with respect to ratchet wheel H5 and thereby releaseor uncouple said clutch SI and cam 83 from the output shaft.

Clutch cover I2I has disposed on its outer face and along thecircumference of a concentric circle in said cover, a cam part I22adapted to actuate cam follower wheel I23 pivotally mounted on crank armI24. Said crank arm is fixed to one end of bar 42 and controls the pushbutton release mechanism as hereinbefore described.

In connection with the electrical circuit for the keybox, describedbelow, there is rotatably and perpendicularly located between plates I2and I3 a switch actuation bar I25 (Figs. 2, 4 and 11). Said bar hasaflixed to its upper face, substantially along its entire length, as byscrews I26, an inwardly extending plate I21. Said bar and plate arepositioned to cooperate with insulated rollers I28 so that the movementof said rollers against plate I21 (as caused by depression of a plunger)will impart to said bar a clockwise rotational motion.

Switch actuation bar I25 extends through plate 22 and has mounted on ita pair of interconnected, insulated movable contact arms I29a and I202).There is further provided for cooperation with said movable contactarms, a pair of fixed contact arms I30a and [30b insulated from, butmechanically mounted to, the outer side of a bracket I3I mounted, as byscrews I32, to plate I2. Movable contact arms I29 are normally held incontact with fixed contact arms I33 by means of a spring I33 connectedfrom plate I34 of the movable contact arm member to a pin I35 fixed inthe edge of plate I2 at a position forward of said movable contact arms.Spring I will thus be seen (Fig. 2) to urge bar I25 in acounterclockwise direction for engagement of said movable and fixedcontact arms. In this position there will be presented a closed circuitat switch terminals I36 and I31. However, when any one of the plungersis pressed, the clockwise motion imparted to said bar will rotate saidmovable contact arms away from fixed contact arms I30a and I301) againstthe urgency of spring I33 resulting in an open circuit at terminals I36and I31 for as long a period of time as the plunger is depressed.

Fig. 12 shows the electrical circuit controlling the keybox lockingmechanism. Locking relay 66 has a coil I33, one terminal of which isconnected by wire I39 to a positive source of direct current supply. Theother terminal of said coil is connected by wire I40 to the movablecontact arm I4I of normally open switch I4 I, I42. Fixed contact arm I42of said switch is connected by a wire I43 to the negative source ofdirect current supply. It is evident that when switch I4I, I42 isclosed, an energization circuit will be completed to solenoid 66resulting in its actuation. As hereinbefore described, when relay 63 isenergized the keybox is unlocked and capable of operation, and when saidswitch is thereafter opened, and the solenoid thereby de-energized,locking bar 53 will be moved to prevent depression of any plunger and atthe same time rod 56 will be moved so that any locked-in classificationlight switch 25a, 252) will be released.

Although locking switch I4I, I42 may be 10 cated at any convenientposition, it has been practical to include this switch as part of thekey identifier unit associated with the keybox so as to be operated bythe use of an identifier 9 key in the identifier unit as indicated inthe drawing.

Fig. 13 shows schematicallythe'electrical circuit (for oneclassification button) associated with the timer unitofthe keybox.The'dashed enclosure represents apparatus and wiring included in thekeybox' itself. Of the remainingequipment, the overhead classificationindicator lights I59 are locatedabove thefassociated't'oll collectionbooth, andthe' auxiliary relays -I45 and the classification counterrelays 145 may -be located at a remoteposition in a printihgregistercabinet.

In the electrical circuit, motorll and solenoid- 59 each have oneterminal connected 'to a' source of alternating current vo1tagef:ACG.The -remaining terminals of saidimjotor'andsolenoid are connected inparallel. aslby wire-I41 "and are also connected, as bywirei I14B,ito.movable-contact arm 23a of switch 23... Fixed icontactarm 23b ofsaid switch'is connected to. a-"source oi? alternating current.v voltageACHl It is now evident that 'aslong; as switch 12311,"

232) is closed, as. it'willvbewhenits-plunger:is depressed, electrical.;circuits: are :completed for motor I? and solenoidi89 .(beinginxparallel). These circuits are; from: ACHiithroughcswit'ch 23a, 23b,wire I48, wire-I4I, motor'i'I'I 'to ACG; and from ACI-Ithroughlswitch:23.a;i23b-, wireil Iii, solenoid 89 to ACG.

Switch 23c; 23d, normallyjopenbut adapted to be closed when itsassociated: push-button is depressed, has its'movable' contactyarm 23ccon nected to a source of negative direct: current voltage. Fixedcontact -arm 23d-of,said' switch is connected by wire I50 to oneterminal: of classification counter relay I46, the other terminal ofsaid relay being connected tothe source of positive direct curentvoltage. Whenenergized, relay I45 is adapted to move armature I46a so asto add a count to its, associated'printing wheels through a mechanismknown to those 1y connected cam :83 are rotated. Saidswitch" has itsfixed contact arm-88b connected to the negative source of direct currentvoltage.- "Said" switch has its movable contactarm: 88a} -connected, asby wire I5I, to-the movablecontact arm I04a of normally open switchIM.Switch I54 has a'fixed contact arm-I04b and is adapted to be closedthrough the' action; of ;-switch-ac tuation arm I02.

Movable 13011534015? arm-- I 04ais connected also, as by, wire I52,-toa-movableswitch arm I45a associated with auxiliary -relay I45; Fixedcontact arm-I0'4b -isconnected-as by wire- I53 to one energizationterminalofsaid auxiliary relay. The other terminalot saidreto a sourceof negative direct current'voltage. Movable contact arm I450 connects bywire I-54 to contact terminal I37 of classification lightauxiliary'switch I36, I37 and thence by wire I51 to movable contact arma oi-lock-i-nswitch 25 associated with the plunger. switch isnormallyopen but adaptedto-beclosed and to be held closed, in-themannerhereinbefore described, by the actionof the plunger. Contact arm 25?) ofsaid switch connects'as by wire I58-to one terminal-of overheadclassification indicator light I5 9.- The-etherterminal-of saidindicator light-is-connected to a sourceof alternating current voltageACHJ Thus, it is evident that whenswitch' 25 and either of switches I35,I31 or I450, -I45d'are closed=circuited, the associatedoverheadclassification indicator-light I59 will be illuminated.This-'circ'uitis seen to be from the source of a1 ternating currentvoltage supply ACI-I, through the. indicator light, wire I 58, switch25; wire I5! and either throughwire I54 and closed switch I.45c,1,I:45d' to. the source of alternating current voltage supply ACG, orthrough closed switch I,35,'.I3'I and wire5I55 to'ithe source ofalternating current voltage 'supplyiA'CG.

A" complete cycle of operation of the keybox is as follows: The tollcollector, upon opening thetoll lane for trafficyturns hisparticular'identifier *key in the k'eyridentifier unit,thereby'fclosfing the switch I4I, 'I42in'cluded therein; Closing saiolswitch operates the keybox'unloclring' circuit, as outlined above,unlocking. the,push buttons for operation.

Thereafter, upon completion of atoll collection transactiomthe operatorwill push. the particular plunger corresponding with the transactioninvolved. ,Upon-depressing the plunger, switch 136, I31 will be openedand switches 23a, 2 317,230; 23d and 25a, 251) will be closed; 'Pawlwill automatically- 'retain the plunger in for the-following cycle ofoperation during which time no other plunger-can be' depressed, ashereinbefore I described. v,

The closure of switch 23a, 23b in the energizing circuit of motor I1 andrelay 89'starts the motor and moves releasearm IUI out of engagementwith pawl' IIiI thereby allowing the clutch mechanism-B l to-be turned.Atthe same time,

switch" actuation arm 82 will move to close associated switch I04.'Justbefore clutchf'mecha nism'BI is'about to completeo'n'e're'volutioh' (a completerevolution' taking; for example, 1seconds), cam part I2'2,in' moving into engage .ment-with-the followerwheel I23 will thereby actuate release bar 44, releasing the plunger.Upon the push button-being released, switch 23a, 23b will open-,-therebyopen-circuiting; relay 8S) andmotor 71; Clutch release arm- -IIlI- willran into "placeand engage with pawl I 01, thus disengaging andstoppingclutch mechanism 8 I as the. 'open-circuited motorcoasts to a iull stop:

Also, when'the plunger is 'releasedgswitch 23c,'

23d Iwill open-circuit and switch' I35, I31 will close circuit. However,as hereinbefore pointed out, switch 25 will remain'closed until any1un-' ger is again depressed or until the keyb'ox -i's locked.

It is 'now' apparent thatfor each timea plunger is depressed, fitsassociated classification counter will-be actuated once, therebyproperly adding one-countfor each depression 'of. the push button:

Whena plunger is first depressed, it will trip open any --previouslylocked-in switch 25' and Said lock-in thereby open-circuit or black outthe preceding classification indicator light. At the same time, sinceswitches 88; I36, I31 and I450, l45d (relay I45 being de-energized) areopen, the classification indicator light for the push button depressedwill not be energized. But when cam 83 has rotated to a position atwhich switch 88 is closed (this occurring, for instance, of a secondafter the timer mechanism has begun to operate), a source of negativevoltage supply will be furnished through switches 88 and I04 to relayI45, energizing it and thereby completing a circuit for theclassification indicator light through switches 25 I45c, H501 to thealternating current voltage source ACG.

Thereafter, when the timer has completed its cycle and the push buttonis released, the classification indicator light will remain energizedthrough now closed switch I36, I31 even though relay I45 has becomede-energized and broken the circuit through its switch contact armsI450, I45d. Moreover, since switch I36, I3! is faster acting than relayI45 and its associated switch I450, I45d, it will close before the relayswitch opens, thereby serving to prevent flickering of theclassification indicator light as the energization circuit is changedfrom one switch to the other.

It should be noted here, that even if a plunger be depressed and held inbeyond the 1% second cycle, no extra registrations will be indicated.This is due to the fact that after switch 104 is closed, energizingrelay I45, said relay remains energized through the electricallylocked-in switch I45a, l45b. Thus the circuit from the positive sourceof direct current voltage supply through relay I45, wire I53, switchI04, wire I52, switch I45a, I45b to the negative source of directcurrent voltage supply, will keep said relay energized until switch I04is thereafter opened, even though cam switch 88 is repeatedly openingand closing. Relay I45, being continually closed, will therefore keep anuninterrupted energization circuit furnished to the classificationindicator light.

It will thus be seen, that there is provided a device in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adaptedto meet the condition of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. An electric device, a manually operated member, means to initiateenergization of said electric device automatically at a substantialpredetermined period after operating said manually operated member, asecond manually operated member, means to deenergize said electricdevice upon actuation of said second manual member, a second electricdevice, and means to initiate energization of the second electric deviceat a substantial predetermined time after actuation of said secondmanually operated member, means to ensure energization of each electricdevice upon operating the manual member associated therewith, said lastmeans including a switch associated with each manually operated memberadapted to be actuated thereby upon operation of said member, and meansto hold the 12 switch in operated condition for a predetermined time.

2. An electric device, a manually operated member, means to energizesaid electric device automatically at a predetermined period afteroperating said manually operated member, means to retain said manuallyoperated member in operated condition, means to automatically return themanually operated member to normal condition at a predetermined time,greater than said first predetermined time, after it is operated, meansto retain said electric device energized after said manually operatedmember is returned to normal, a second manually operated member, meansto de-energize said electric device upon actuation of said secondmanually operated member, and mean to prevent deenergization of saidelectric device, until it has been energized for at least apredetermined period of time.

3. An electric device, a manually operated member, means to energizesaid electric device automatically at a predetermined period afteroperating said manually operated member, means to retain said manuallyoperated member in operated condition, means to automatically return themanually operated member to normal condition at a predetermined time,greater than said first predetermined time, after it is operated, meansto retain said electric device energized after said manually operatedmember is returned to normal, a second manually operated member, meansto de-energize said electric device upon actuation of said secondmanually operated member, a second electric device, means to energizethe second electric device at a predetermined time after actuation ofsaid second manually operated member, and means to preventdeenergization of said first electric device until it has been energizedfor at least a predetermined period of time.

4. An electric device, a manually operated member, means to energizesaid electric device automatically at a predetermined period afteroperating said manually operated member, means to retain said manuallyoperated member in operated condition, means to automatically return themanually operated member to normal condition at a predetermined time,greater than said first predetermined time, after it is operated, asecond manually operated member, means to deenergize said electricdevice upon actuation of said second manually operated member, a secondelectric device, means to energize the second electric device at apredetermined time after actuation of said second manually operatedmember, and means to prevent actuation of said second manually operatedmember before said first manually operated member is returned to normalposition.

5. In a keybox, the combination comprising an electric signal light, amanually operated key, means to initiate energization of said signallight automatically at'a predetermined time after operating said key, asecond manually operated key, means to de-energize said signal lightupon operation of said second manually operated key, a second electricsignal light, means to initiate energization of said second signal lightat a predetermined time after operation of said sec ond manuallyoperated key, means to prevent de-energization of said first signallight until it has been energized for at least a, predetermined periodof time, means to ensure energization of any signal light upon operationof the manual key associated therewith, said last means includ- 13 ing aswitch associated with each manuallyoperated keyadapted to be actuatedthereby upon operating said key, and meansfor holdingthe switchinactuatedcondition for a predetermined time.

6. In a, keybox, the combination. comprising an electric signal light, amanually operated key, means to energizesaid signal light automaticallyat a predetermined time after operating said key, means to retainsaidkey in operated condition, means to automatically return said manuallyoperated key to normal position at a predetermined time, greater thansaid first predetermined'time, after it is operated, means to retain.said electric signal light energized after thereturnof said key tonormal, a second manually operated key and means to de-energize said.electric I signal light upon operation of said second-manually operatedkey.

7. In a keybox, the combination comprising. an electricsignal light, amanually operated key, means to energize said signal lightautomaticallyat a predetermined time after operating: said key, means to retain saidkey, in operated condition, means to automatically return said manuallyoperated key to normal position at a predetermined time, greater thansaid first. predetermined time, after it is operated, means to retainsaid signal light energizedlafter the return of said key to normal, asecond manually operated key, means to de-energize said electric. signallight upon operation of said second manually operated key, asecondelectric signal light means to energize said second signal light at apredetermined length of timeafter operation of said second manuallyoperated key, and means to prevent operation of said second manuallyoperated key for a predetermined period after said first electric signallight has become energized.

8. A plurality of depressable keys, timing means to hold any one of saidkeys in depressed position for a predetermined length of time, meanscontrolled by the depression of said key to release said last means atthe end of said predetermined period of time, a plurality of electricsignal lights one for each of said keys, energizing circuits for each ofsaid signal lights, controlled by depressing their respective keys,means controlled by said timing means to de-energize said circuit for aportion of the predetermined ilength of time during which said key isheld depressed by said timing means, and to then energize said circuit,means to prevent de-energization of said circuit until it has beenenergized for at least a predetermined period of time, means to ensureenergization of the respective circuits upon depressing the keyassociated therewith, said last means including a switch associated witheach key adapted to be actuated thereby upon depressing .said key, andmeans for holding the switch in actuated condition for a predeterminedtime.

9. An electric signal, an energizing circuit for said signal, a switchin said circuit, controlling said circuit, a, manually operated key toactuate said switch, timing means, controlled by said manually operatedkey to hold said key in operated position for a predetermined length oftime, means to return said key to normal position at the end of saidpredetermined length of time, means to maintain said switch in actuatedposition upon the return of said key to normal position, and meanscontrolled by said timing means to retain said circuit in de-energizedcondition for a predetermined period shorter than said predeterminedlength of) time and starting with the operation of said key,notwithstanding "actuation of saidv switch, and to thereafter energizesaid circuit to operate said signal.

10. An electricjsignal, an energizing circuit for said signal, a switchin said circuit, controlling said circuit, a manually operated key toactuate said switch, timing means, controlledv by said manually.operated key to hold said key in operated position .for a predeterminedlength of time, means to return said. key to normal position at the endof said predeterminedlength of time, means to maintain said switch inactuated position upon the return of said key to normal position, meanscontrolled by said timing means to retain said circuit in de-energizedcondition for a predetermined period shorter than .said pre determinedlength of time andstarting with the operation of said key,notwithstanding actua tion of said switch, and to hereafter energizesaid circuit to operate said signal, a. second manually operated key,and meanscontrolled by the operation of said second manually operatedkey. to return said switch'to de-actuated position, and

means to prevent actuation of the second key until the firstkey isreturned tonormal.

11. An electric signal, an energizing'circuit for said signal, includingafirst normally open switch and a, second normally open switch, acontrol circuit for said energizing .circuitinclu'ding a relay, anenergizing circuit for said relay, and a. third normally open .switchcontrolled by said relay, said third switch being connectedin parallelwith said second switch, a manually operated key to actuate said firstand second switches, timing means controlled bysaid manually operatedkey to hold said'keyin operated'position for a predetermined length oftime, a fourth normally open switch in said relay energizing circuitcontrolled by said timing means to be actuated during said predeterminedlength of time, a fifth normally openswitch in said :relay circuitcontrolled by said .timing means to be actuated for a period shorterthan said predetermined length of time, a sixth normallyopen switchcontrolled by said relay and connected. to electrically lock in saidrelay energizing circuit when said fourth'switch is'actuated, means-torelease said manually operated key, at. the end of said predeterminedlength of time, and means to retain said first switch in actuatedposition.

upon the release of said manually operatedkey.

12. An electric signal, an energizing; circuit for said signal,including a first normally open switch and a second normally openswitch, a control circuit for said-energizingcircuit including a relay,an energizing circuit for said relay, a third normally openswitchcontrolledby said relay, said third switchbeing connected in parallelwith said-second switch, a manually operated key to actuate said firstand second switches, timing means controlled by said manually operatedkey to hold said key in operated position for a predetermined length oftime, a fourth normally open switch in said relay energizing circuitcontrolled by said timing means to be actuated during said predeterminedlength of time, a fifth normally open switch in said relay circuitcontrolled by said timing means to be actuated for a period shorter thansaid predetermined length of time, a sixth normally open switchcontrolled by said relay and connected to electrically lock in saidrelay energizing circuit when said fourth switch is actuated, means torelease said manually operated key, at the nd of said predeterminedlength of time, means to retain said first switch in actuated positionupon the release of said manually operated key, a second manuallyoperated key, and means controlled by the operation of said secondmanually operated key to return said first switch to deactuatedposition.

13. In a toll checking system, a cyclically operable timing mechanism,an indicating means, a manually operated member actuable to initiateoperation of said timing mechanism, means to energize said indicatingmeans, means to delay the energization of said indicating means for apredetermined portion of the timing mechanism cycle, means to return themanually operated member to normal position during said cycle, and meansto prevent re-actuation of said manually operated member until saidtiming mechanism cycle is completed.

14. A plurality of depressable keys, a switch associated with each key,means for each key to operate its switch, timing means to hold any oneof said operated switches in operated position for a predeterminedlength of time, means controlled by the operation of any operated switchto release its operating means, an electric signal light associated witheach switch, an energizing circuit for each of said signal lightscontrolled by the operation of the key for the switch associatedtherewith, and means controlled by said timing means to deenergize saidcircuit for a portion only of the predetermined length of time.

15. In a toll checking system, a timing mechanism operable for apredetermined period of time, a plurality of indicating means, amanually operated member associated with each indicating means, means toinitiate operation of a timing mechanism upon actuating any of saidmanually operated members, means to energize an indicating meansassociated with any actuated manually operated member, means to delaythe energization of said associated indicating means for a predeterminedportion of the time during which said timing means is operated, means toreturn any actuated manually operated member to normal position, andmeans to prevent actuation of any other manually operated member duringsaid predetermined period.

16. In a toll checking system, a plurality of manually operable members,an electrically operated signal means associated with each member, meansto actuate the signal means associated with one of said members, apredetermined time after actuating said member and to maintain saidsignal means in operated condition, means to deactuate the actuatedsignal means associated with said first member a similar predeterminedtime after actuation of said other member, and means to preventactuation of said other member for a predetermined period after saidfirst signal 16 means has become actuated, means to ensure actuation ofsaid electrically operated signal means upon operation of the manualmember associated therewith, said last means including a switchassociatedwith each manually operable member adapted to be actuatedthereby upon depressing said member, and means for holding the switch inactuated condition for a predetermined time.

17. In a toll checking system, a depressable member, an electric signalassociated therewith, means to energize the signal a predetermined timeafter depressing the depressable member, and means to preventdeenergization of said signal for another predetermined period after itis energized, and means to return the depressable memher to normalcondition, means to ensure energization of said signal upon depressingsaid depressable member, said last means including a switch associatedwith said depressable member adapted to be actuated thereby upondepressing said member, and means for holding the switch in actuatedcondition for a predetermined time.

18. In a toll checking system, a depressable member, an electric signalassociated therewith, means to energize the signal a predetermined timeafter depressing the depressable member, and means to preventdeenergization of said signal for another predetermined period after itis energized, and means to return the depressable member to normalcondition, a second depressable member, a second signal associated withsaid second member, means to energize the second signal a predeterminedtime similar to the first predetermined time after depressing the secondmember, and means to deenergize the first signal upon depressing thesecond depressable member, means to ensure energization of the signalassociated with each depressable member upon depressing said member,said last means including a switch associated with each depressablemember adapted to be actuated thereby upon depressing said member, andmeans for holding the switch in actuated condition for a predeterminedtime.

BENJAMIN COOPER.

CES CITED The following references are of record in the file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,164,737 Mead Dec. 21, 19151,707,909 Gullong Apr. 2, 1929 2,364,937 Bauer Dec. 12, 1944 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 108,213 Great Britain Aug. 2, 1917

